Not cold enough?

Hi. I bought a used Kenmore freezer upright model 253.9280412 and after plugging it in and running it for 5-6 hours, it reached about 10 degrees and seemed to be stuck here. At a temp setting of 1 it just ran and ran and never got below 10 deg. As I backed the temp control down toward OFF, it finally cycled off. Shortly there after it came on again and continued to cycle at around 12-14 degrees. It would run for 4 minutes and off for 4 minutes. It did eventually go into defrost for about a 1/2 hour then came back on and ran unitl back to 12 deg. The freezer was empty with no food cause I want to make sure it's OK before I put food. Did I not leave it on long enough to reach 0 deg or so? Also there are no visible condensor coils but the sides of the freezer get very hot! I assume that the coils are there. Yes? The evap fan blows well. It's in my garage. Is it too hot in there?? Someone also left a service port on the high side so I connected a gauge and it read 165 psi or so when running. Seems normal to me. It's a 134A freezer. Help!! I have more questions but will stop here.

Thanks, I'll try to re-gas. System says 7oz. 134A. Can I re-gas from the high side service port as long as I don't turn the freezer on while gassing?Thanks, I'll try to re-gas. System says 7oz. 134A. Can I re-gas from the high side service port as long as I don't turn the freezer on while gassing?

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Related Questions:

When you plug it in, does the interior light turn on? If not, suspect the wall outlet - test it for power by plugging in something else. If the interior light turns on, listen very closely to the freezer. It should hum. If it doesn't, toy with the freezer control inside - it may just be turned off. Turn it to about midpoint and listen very closely to it again. If still no hum, wait a short while, then feel carefully on the outside of the cabinet - it may be running through a defrost cycle. The outside of the cabinet may get warm while that's happening, especially around the door gaskets. Wait a while (half an hour, an hour, for the defrost cycle to finish - the freezer should run then.

If it never hums, then the compressor isn't running, so adding freon won't make any difference. Instead, suspect the defrost timer - that's a little electronic circuit board inside.

If it HUMS but never gets COLD, then you potentially have a freon leakage problem. It's difficult at best, though, to refill a refrigerator or freezer - they don't usually have refill taps.

Oh, yes. If the internal light never comes on but you've proven that the wall outlet has power, it's entirely possible that the plug is bad and needs to be redone.

it may take upto24 hours to settle to -18C,remember it has to cool right through the food in the freezer,as well as the walls.also if the food went soft, it is spoilt......cook meat asap then refreeze.

If it is running but not cooling enough the problem is in the sealed system.

If you started it up just after hauling it home it may have be moved around enough to get oil in the systems smaller tubing causing problems. Unplug the unit for 24 hours and let it sit. Try it again for 24 hours and see if it cools.

If not this means either there is a refrigerant (freon) leak in the system or a restriction causing the refrigerant to not flow properly.

Either one are an expensive repair. and will require a professional to look at.